Great interest in Balıkesir Book Fair: 50 thousand book lovers

The 1st Balıkesir Book Fair was visited by approximately 50,000 book lovers over three days. Prominent figures such as Güldal Mumcu, Alper Akçam, Sinan Meydan, Murat Ağırel, Aytunç Erkin, Serhan Asker, Banu Avar, Naim Babiroğlu, and Cihat Yaycı attended the fair. On the evening of the third day, Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın stated, "There is great interest in the fair. The people of Balıkesir have been longing for such an event. I invite all my fellow citizens to the fair, which will run until Sunday, October 26th."

Speaking at the fair, Alper Akçam, son of Village Institute member Dursun Akçam, emphasized, "Village Institutes are the Anatolian Renaissance; society must understand the Anatolian Renaissance very well." Journalist Murat Ağırel stated, "Journalists must be completely biased in favor of the truth and the people." Journalist Aytunç Erkin emphasized, "Uğur Mumcu was an anti-imperialist and a populist. We are populists too; we believe in independence and anti-imperialism." Historian Sinan Meydan said, "If the Republic of Turkey stands today, it does so thanks to the solid foundations laid during Atatürk's time."

A JOURNALIST MUST HAVE A BACKBONE

Journalist Murat Ağırel, in his speech at the fair, said, “A journalist must be completely biased; there can be no impartial journalist. A journalist is on the side of truth and the people. A journalist must uphold the values ​​of the republic. A journalist is on the side of the era. A journalist must stand tall and have a backbone. A journalist must be a source of hope when the people lose hope.” Another journalist, Aytunç Erkin, emphasized, “Citizens have come to expect journalists to do what politics cannot. There is no such thing as an opposition journalist; there is a critical journalist. Wherever there is an error, corruption, or political struggle, they must fulfill their critical duty and enlighten you. Uğur Mumcu was an anti-imperialist and a populist. We are populists too, we believe in independence and anti-imperialism.”

THE SECOND NAME AFTER ATATÜRK IS TONGUÇ

Speaking about his latest book, "Anatolian Renaissance," author and researcher Alper Akçam, son of Dursun Akçam, a member of the institute, said, "Village institutes are the Anatolian Renaissance. Society must thoroughly understand the Anatolian Renaissance and thoroughly understand the values ​​of the Republic. Because the key to tomorrow lies in this enlightenment. İsmail Hakkı Tonguç is the second name that deserves to be remembered in this country, after Mustafa Kemal Atatürk."

WE DEFEND THE REPUBLIC

Speaking to a packed audience, historian Sinan Meydan said, "If the Republic of Turkey stands today, it does so thanks to the solid foundations laid during Atatürk's time. We didn't establish this republic easily, nor was it handed to us on a silver platter. We didn't inherit this republic from the palace or the sultan. This republic is, above all, ours. Therefore, we will protect it above all else. And in defending it, we will not seek permission from any political party or individual."

WHO MANAGES WATER MANAGES THE STATE

Retired Rear Admiral and author Cihat Yaycı, in an interview before the signing, said, "Balıkesir, with its ports and shipyards, is the blue homeland. Balıkesir is where the fuse of the national struggle was ignited... Throughout history, no world power has been strong at sea without becoming one. Whoever controls the water controls the state. If you don't control the sea, the mainland is not safe."

WHICH WORLD ORDER?

Journalist and author Banu Avar, after assessing the developments in the region in her speech, said, “Syria has been torn apart. Don't believe all this nonsense like, ‘Syria can't be torn apart, weapons are being laid down, terrorism is ending.’ There's no such thing. If the US has deployed an 80,000-strong army there and has accumulated resources there for years, why would it lay down its weapons?”

A YOUNG 34-YEAR-OLD COMMANDER

Retired General and historian Dr. Naim Babüroğlu, in his interview titled “The Leader Whom History Envies”, stated that the place where Mustafa Kemal appeared on the stage of history and in the presence of the Turkish Nation was the Gallipoli War of 1915.

"As we all, or some of us, know, Mustafa Kemal didn't just shatter the dreams of occupying armies at Çanakkale. He didn't prevent the occupation of the Ottoman capital, or of Constantinople, or of Gallipoli, or of Istanbul itself. At the age of 34, Mustafa Kemal also avenged the Trojan War, which took place 3,200 years ago in the same region. This is how the history of warfare records this, and this is a magnificent assessment," he said.

FOURTH DAY AT THE FAIR

On the fourth day of the 1st Balıkesir Book Fair (Monday, October 20), the fair will open its doors to book lovers at 10:00, and from 14:00 onwards, figures such as Aytuna Yamaç, Prof. Dr. Tülay Çulha, Prof. Dr. Abdullah Soykan, Prof. Dr. Sabriye Çelik, Aydın Ayhan and Can Uğur will give talks and sign books for their readers.